Kenyans to register anywhere for referendum

April 7, 2010 12:00 am

By JUDIE KABERIA, NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 7 – The Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) now says voters can register at any centre in order to participate in the forthcoming referendum.

In a statement, IIEC Public Relations Officer Andrew Limo said the referendum will require only a Yes or No vote which will not be specific to constituencies.

“The referendum shall be a one-constituency election requiring a Yes or No vote,” he said and explained that voters would then be required to transfer to their specific polling stations after the plebiscite.

At the same time, the IIEC has announced that voter registration in South Mugirango will close on April 20 to allow for 30 days of scrutiny of the register ahead of the by-election in June.

According to the commission, South Mugirango voters will not have the extra 15 days like the rest of the country due to the forthcoming by-election on June 10.

The by-election follows court nullification of the 2007 parliamentary results where former MP Omingo Magara had been declared winner.

Meanwhile, the voter registration exercise has reported that about four million Kenyans registered on the third week of the voter registration exercise.

Mr Limo said that more people in the rural areas utilised the Easter holiday to register in high numbers.

But he noted that the ongoing rains have been a major challenge for the exercise causing IIEC to airlift materials to most affected regions.

“We have also stepped up voter education and made outreaches to communities, churches and special interest groups. Rain still remains a big challenge,” he said.

He said the Commission expected the number of voters to increase from next Monday, when IIEC launches electronic registration in 18 constituencies.

“The numbers are even set to increase when we roll out the electronic voter registration on April 12 in which we target 1,482,848 voters,” he said.

The countrywide exercise is scheduled to end on May 21.

IIEC has appealed to those eligible for voting to register on time to avoid a last-minute rush and also to ensure they participate in the referendum.

JUDIE KABERIA Judie, an Associate Editor has worked as a journalist in Kenya and Germany. She has a Master's Degree in New Media, Governance and Democracy, University of Leicester (U.K). She has scooped 10 journalistic awards. She has participated in international conferences in Germany, Switzerland, United States and Netherlands. Judie has written a booklet, 'Justice and Peace in the Kenyan Eye'. She has a soft spot for human rights, crime, peace and justice stories.